Is it too late in the year for students to find business and consumer services internships?

Finding a business or consumer services internship can seem challenging for college and university students, especially as the calendar year progresses from winter to spring to summer. This article offers valuable insights from industry experts on securing business or consumer services internships, even when time appears to be running out.

• Proactively Seek Ongoing Internship Opportunities
• Demonstrate Value Through Direct Company Outreach
• Remain Flexible for Unexpected Openings
• Initiate Contact with Personalized Proposals
• Explore Short-Term Projects on Freelance Platforms
• Leverage Volunteer Work for Professional Experience
• Persistence Pays Off in Internship Search
• Tap Alumni Networks for Hidden Opportunities
• Transform Informational Interviews into Internships
• Target Small Businesses for Year-End Positions
• Reach Out Directly to Admired Professionals

Proactively Seek Ongoing Internship Opportunities

As the owner of an explainer video company serving business and consumer service brands, I can confidently say it’s not too late in the year for college and university students to find meaningful internships.

While many structured summer programs may have closed applications, businesses like mine often have ongoing needs and are open to bringing in interns on a rolling basis, especially for roles in marketing, sales support, or client services.

We value initiative—students who proactively reach out with a tailored message and show they understand our industry stand out. Internships today aren’t just about fixed timelines; they’re about flexibility, skill alignment, and value exchange.

Andre Oentoro, CEO and Founder, Breadnbeyond

Demonstrate Value Through Direct Company Outreach

It’s definitely not too late for college and university students to find internships in business or consumer services, even later in the year. Many companies have rolling internship programs or short-term projects that start outside the traditional summer cycle. From my perspective in the telemarketing and sales space, there’s often a need for motivated interns who can jump in quickly and help with research, outreach, or data analysis.

My advice to students is to be proactive and flexible. Reach out directly to smaller firms or startups, where internship programs might be less formal but opportunities to learn and contribute are abundant. Tailor your outreach to show how you can add value immediately rather than just looking for experience. Also, consider remote internships; they’re more common now and can open doors beyond your local market.

The key is demonstrating eagerness to learn and a willingness to take on real tasks. Companies want interns who can move beyond coffee runs and spreadsheets and actually help drive projects forward. So keep applying, stay open-minded, and be ready to hit the ground running when an opportunity comes your way.

Reed Daniels, Owner, Rail Trip Strategies

Remain Flexible for Unexpected Openings

No, it’s not too late because companies have ongoing needs, and sometimes last-minute opportunities arise. It’s not specific where they only hire at certain times. If anything, they need extra help all year round.

Projects come up unexpectedly, people leave, or there’s just a sudden rush of work, especially in consumer services. What you should do is keep your eyes open, particularly if you have a list of companies you’re interested in. Reach out to them and explain why you’re so interested in joining. If you’re flexible about the role and timing, chances are they’ll take you on relatively soon.

Mike Handelsman, CEO & Owner, FoamOrder

Initiate Contact with Personalized Proposals

Deadlines do not govern momentum. Students who send 25 personalized emails to small businesses, legal offices, or solo consultants in May often get better traction than those who applied to 10 corporate programs back in January. Fewer filters mean faster responses. Plenty of professionals will say yes to an extra set of hands for 10 hours per week if the pitch is direct and relevant. It costs nothing to try.

Scrap the “perfect application” mentality. Contacting five business owners in your town or alumni from your school with real proposals, such as reviewing 100 customer service calls or logging 40 hours of shadowing, beats waiting for a portal to reopen. In this case, the answer is no, it is not too late. What I am getting at is that students who initiate contact now can still walk away with a useful experience before August.

Nate Baber, Partner and Lawyer, InjuredCT

Explore Short-Term Projects on Freelance Platforms

It’s never too late if you know where to look. In business and consumer services, short-term consulting gigs often pop up when teams are racing to hit year-end goals or need quick support during holiday demand spikes.

I always recommend students check platforms like Catalant or Upwork—businesses there are constantly posting time-sensitive projects that require strong administrative or business skills. Even a two-week engagement can open doors, build real-world credibility, and lead to longer-term roles if you impress the client.

Peter Čuček, Owner, Tuuli

Leverage Volunteer Work for Professional Experience

Volunteering can quietly open doors that job boards don’t. If a paid internship isn’t available late in the year, stepping into a volunteer role—especially with nonprofits, chambers of commerce, or local events—can still build the kind of business experience employers value. You gain exposure to operations, communication, and stakeholder management without waiting for a formal offer. And when you’re already inside helping, you’re far more likely to hear, “Want to stay on as an intern?” from someone who’s seen your initiative firsthand.

Nicolas Breedlove, CEO, PlaygroundEquipment.com

Persistence Pays Off in Internship Search

There’s still time for students to find internships – just be willing to do the legwork to find them. It is true that some companies will plan out their summer internships far in advance, but many others will be more flexible on timings, others will run internships throughout the year, and some will even have their internship applications consistently open so that they never miss the best candidates. The truth is, many small-to-mid-sized businesses operate on shorter timelines, so this could be a great place to start if you are looking for something sooner.

The main point is to never count yourself out. It’s so easy to assume you are too late, but the truth is you never know what a well-written, personalized email could achieve to the right set of eyes, and many businesses won’t want to see a good intern pass them by, even if it is out of their hiring period. Even if it’s too late now, they might hold your details for the next round. It’s always worth dropping that email or making that call to build the connection.

Jonathan Moore, Marketing & Ecommerce Director, Simba Sleep

Tap Alumni Networks for Hidden Opportunities

Tapping into alumni networks can open doors to internship opportunities that don’t always make it onto public job boards. Alumni understand the value of supporting fellow students and often have insider knowledge about openings or projects in their companies that could use extra help. 

Reaching out to them with genuine curiosity and respect can lead to valuable connections, advice, and sometimes even internship offers that feel more personal and tailored. This kind of networking creates a win-win situation, connecting eager students with professionals ready to mentor and collaborate.

John Elarde III, Operations Manager, Clear View Building Services

Transform Informational Interviews into Internships

Informational interviews open doors that traditional applications often miss. When students take time to chat with professionals in business or consumer services, they gain insights into day-to-day realities, company culture, and hiring trends that aren’t public knowledge.

These conversations often reveal internship roles that haven’t been widely advertised or are just about to open up. Plus, building a personal connection creates goodwill—professionals are more likely to remember and recommend someone who shows curiosity and initiative.

For students searching late in the year, this tactic can transform a casual chat into a real opportunity, giving them a competitive edge when formal recruiting slows down.

Holly Finnefrock, Founder & CEO, Everblue Pond

Target Small Businesses for Year-End Positions

Most students think internship season ends in October, but I’ve seen December become a goldmine for landing positions. Why? Companies suddenly realize they have budget to burn before year-end, and their summer intern pipeline dried up months ago.

Target smaller companies and startups, not Fortune 500s. We’ve hired many December interns over the years at Clear Ads, each time because we needed extra hands for Q1 and our regular recruiting cycle missed great candidates. Small businesses move fast and make decisions quickly. Skip the formal internship portals and email founders directly with a specific project you could tackle. Show them you understand their business challenges and can hit the ground running in January. The competition is minimal because everyone else has given up.

George Meressa, CEO, Clear Ads

Reach Out Directly to Admired Professionals

It’s definitely not too late in the year for students to land an internship in the business or consumer services space, especially in fields like photography, hospitality, or other client-facing roles. In fact, this is when many businesses are busiest and could really use an extra set of hands. When I started out, I remember how difficult it was to find structured internships, but the truth is, many opportunities are informal and come through direct outreach.

As someone who runs my own photography business, I’ve had students message me mid-year offering to assist at weddings or help with editing, and I’ve brought several on board just based on their initiative and attitude. My advice? Don’t wait for your college’s career portal to post something. Reach out to professionals you admire; even a short message with a link to your work and a few lines about what you’re hoping to learn can open doors.

In this industry, showing up with energy, curiosity, and a willingness to work hard goes a long way. It’s not about timing; it’s about making the first move.

Kristina Barron, Professional Photographer, Kristina Barron Photographer